Hello!

My name is Amanda and I am a participant in the Girl's RISE (Raising Interest in Science and Engineering) Program here at the Miami Museum of Science.
Here, we do hands-on projects such as building popsicle-stick bridges, writing/creating web pages, and learning more about computers. One week we made burglar alarms that actually work, and another time we made electrical games. Clocks were one of the more difficult and time consuming projects that took a couple weeks to complete. Though it took a while, we learned different skills and we enjoyed ourselves. I like the fact that we can work with whoever we like, and the mentors don't demand silence all of the time like the teachers at ordinary schools do.
The people who get into the program next year, will get to help design museum exhibits which the public will be able to see and try-out. RISE is a class that goes on every Saturday during the school-year, and Monday through Friday during the summer. During the second year, the classes are only every-other Saturday.
The RISE Program isn't just work though, we also get to play computer games, go on the Internet, look at all of the new and improved museum exhibits. If you are chosen to participate in the second year, at the end, you will be rewarded with four hundred dollars for all of your hard work during the two years. The mentors here are quite friendly.